What We Saw: Week 2

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders

 

 

The Chiefs and Raiders both came into this game with impressive week 1 victories and the Chiefs continued where they left off last year with another 40+ point game behind Patrick Mahomes. The Raiders came into their matchup with the Broncos under a bit of turmoil with the recent spotlight of Hard Knocks and the Antonio Brown saga looming over their heads. Both teams came into this week looking to build on their performances in week 1. Let’s take a look at what we saw:

 

Kansas City Chiefs

 

Quarterback

 

• Patrick Mahomes: 30/44, 443 yards, 4 TDs

 

The Chiefs struggled to get anything on the first two drives of the game as they totaled 31 yards in 11 plays. As soon as the second quarter started you would have thought the Chiefs were playing 7-on-7 football as they scored all 28 of their points during that 15-minute period. Playing without Tyreek Hill for the first time this year, Patrick Mahomes did not look like he cared. He started the scoring off with a busted coverage TD to Demarcus Robinson where the defense forgot to cover him. On his second TD pass, Mahomes found Mecole Hardman a.k.a. Tyreek Hill lite on a beautiful post route where Hardman burned the secondary. Mahomes later connected with Travis Kelce on 27-yard TD and ended the scoring with a 1 play 39-yard TD to Robinson. Mahomes has shown in the past that he is matchup proof and anyone thinking that losing Hill would make his numbers suffer can put that to rest as well.

 

Running Backs

 

• LeSean McCoy: 11 carries, 23 yards | 3 targets, 3 catches, 0 yards
• Damien Williams: 9 carries, 8 yards | 5 targets, 3 catches, 48 yards

 

Unfortunately, the running backs could not get in on the scoring fun in this game as they were bottled up all game. Damien Williams started this game but he did not end it as he left early with a knee injury. Mahomes missed Williams on a couple of passes that could have been big plays for him but he continues to be a low-end RB2 or flex option, just keep an eye out on the injury report for this week. LeSean McCoy looks to be a touchdown-dependent RB2 as they prefer Williams in passing situations. I’d put a speculative claim on Darwin Thompson if he is available as he would slide into the passing down role for Williams should he miss any time. 

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

• Sammy Watkins: 13 targets, 6 catches, 49 yards
• Travis Kelce: 9 targets, 7 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD
• Demarcus Robinson: 6 targets, 6 catches, 172 yards, 2 TDs
• Mecole Hardman: 6 targets, 4 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD

 

Sammy Watkins may have disappointed owners this week that were chasing his stats from week 1 but he still ended up with a decent game and the 13 targets is encouraging. Mahomes missed Watkins on a few plays that may have been miscommunication but Watkins remains a lock in your lineup with the upside on this offense. Travis Kelce is an elite TE and will have games like this more often than not, especially without Tyreek on the field. The surprise from this game had to be Demarcus Robinson as he was the deep option for Mahomes most of the afternoon. Any receiver on the field with Mahomes has some viability and it looks like that may be the case with Robinson. He would be worth a high waiver claim or about 10% of your remaining FAAB. His counterpart that everyone was excited to see, Mecole Hardman, was equally impressive and looks to take over the speed threat on the offense without Tyreek for 6-8 weeks. Hardman had a 42-yard TD pass in this game but also had a 74-yard TD called back due to offensive holding penalty. I prefer Hardman to Robinson if I am claiming one of the WRs this week.

 

Oakland Raiders

 

Quarterback

 

• Derek Carr: 23/38, 198 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

 

Derek Carr has always been an accurate quarterback when he is not under pressure as we saw in the Denver game on Monday night. In this game, Carr was hit 5 times and sacked 3 times which resulted in some hurried throws and him looking uncomfortable in the pocket. This is the type of game I expected against the Broncos defense last week but coming into this week against the Chiefs it looked like a perfect opportunity to build on his solid start. Carr is a QB2 in any league where you can start 2 quarterbacks but other than those leagues I don’t think he should be rostered as he doesn’t have very much upside.

 

Running Backs

 

• Josh Jacobs: 12 carries, 99 yards | 0 targets
• Jalen Richard: 2 carries, 3 yards | 3 targets, 2 catches, 2 yards
• DeAndre Washington: 3 carries, 9 yards | 2 targets, 2 catches, 26 yards

 

Josh Jacobs’ stat line is a bit deceiving as more than half of his yards came on one 51 yard run in the 3rd quarter. I am also a little concerned about his usage after the Raiders got down in this game as he split work with DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard. That being said, Jacobs looks like the real deal and in a good matchup, he is a solid RB2 with RB1 upside. I don’t think there is a situation where you can feel comfortable about benching him so he is an every-week starter moving forward. Washington looks to have carved out a bigger role in this offense than Richard and he is the handcuff that I want to own and Richard could be a cut for me in leagues this week as there isn’t as big of a role we thought there might be for him.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

• Hunter Renfrow: 8 targets, 4 catches, 30 yards
• Darren Waller: 7 targets, 6 catches, 63 yards
• Tyrell Williams: 7 targets, 5 catches, 46 yards, 1 TD
• Derek Carrier: 5 targets, 3 catches, 33 yards

 

This situation is looking to be a 2 horse race as Tyrell Williams and Darren Waller look to be the only consistent options for fantasy as receivers. Williams had a TD in this game and has begun his Raiders career a lot like some fans thought Antonio Brown would. He is the clear WR1 on this team and Carr trusts him. Williams is a safe WR3 week in and week out with WR2 upside. Waller is a matchup nightmare for the defense and has had two consistent games to start the year. He looks like a safe top 10 TE in any league with some touchdown upside. Hunter Renfrow is a sneaky PPR guy to keep an eye on as he had 8 targets in this game as the Raiders look for a third option on offense. 

 

• Colin Weatherwax